Library

Observing that men and women unite in righteousness as husband and wife, follow virtue and justice, conform to Yin and Yang, thereby operating the principle of generation and creation, complying with the nature of Heaven and Earth, and responding to the commands of the Four Seasons, allowing Ying (Nutritive Qi) and Wei (Defensive Qi) to flow freely and be stored, restoring deficiency, and attaining this "correct number" (normal physiological laws). Thus, the conception sac contains blood vessels; can its creative power be inferior to the guidelines of Xuan Yuan (the origin of Dao)? Therefore, those who attain the correct number, even if foolish, are capable of it; those who lose the correct number, even if noble and rich, will suffer. This is because nourishment depends on one's essential nature, so endowment has advantages and dullness, constitution has excess and deficiency. The wise and virtuous versus the mediocre and vulgar all follow this common rule, which makes this clear. Nowadays, pregnant women treat pregnancy as a matter of course, do not regulate their diet, and have improper daily routines, undergoing excessive labor before delivery; men treat monitoring the fetus as a matter of course, indulge their desires, act arbitrarily, and frequently expose themselves to filth. Consequently, after the child is born, the hundred vessels become deficient, the San Jiao (Triple Burner) is not smooth, orifices are blocked, Ying and Wei are disharmonious, and diseases arise during early infancy, presenting various strange symptoms that cannot be fully described. Now, twenty-six syndromes are listed and summarized. Wise individuals observe them, carefully assess their appropriateness, apply analogous treatments, assist in harmonizing Ying and Wei, and ensuring proper meridians.

Discussion: "He" refers to opening and closing the mouth; "Qian" means insufficient spirit, hence called "He Qian" (yawning). It is not a disease. Many newborns exhibit this, which is not surprising. Qian Yi stated that yawning, stretching, and restlessness are mostly due to weak fetal Qi, unrobust Ying Blood, and unsmooth Wei Qi, failing to nourish Heart Blood. Failing to nourish the Heart, the Shen (Spirit) does not reside securely; thus, yawning, stretching, and restlessness occur, with no other cause. Ancient prescriptions include the Cinnabar Honey Method, mixed with Ginseng Decoction for drinking, but it is superior to administer five to seven pills of Ding Zhi Wan (Stabilize Spirit Pill), dissolved in Ophiopogon Decoction, which is extremely effective.

Discussion: "Shen" (stretching) involves protruding the chest and extending the Qi channels; "Shu" (relaxing/extending) involves pulling the head and neck straight and extending the limbs, exerting force, repeating after a long interval. Many newborns exhibit this, which is also not a disease. It is largely because during pregnancy, the mother’s sitting and rising were not spacious, or silk was used to bind the abdomen tightly, or crotch pants were tied too tight, or she lay curled up, or slept without turning sides. Therefore, the fetal Qi in the sac was not free to flow smoothly, and naturally exhibits this after birth. Old people know how to massage but do not know how to regulate the hundred vessels; one should bathe the infant with Wu Mu Tang (Five Woods Decoction), which is highly effective. Wu Mu Tang is prepared by decocting branches of peach, plum, locust tree, coconut, and soap pod, waiting until warm, and bathing the infant. Additionally, giving a small amount of Guanyin San (Guanyin Powder) orally yields excellent results.